Stan Hansen was officially announced as the latest inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016 evening during last night's Raw broadcast. Hansen will be honored alongside this year's other inductees on Saturday, April 2nd, the night before WrestleMania 32. Hansen has long been regarded as one of the greatest brawlers in professional wrestling history. He started his career in 1973 and wrestled all the way up until 2001. Though Hansen did appear for WWWF, WWF, AWA, and several regional promotions in America, most of his success came as the stiff-working American in Japan. He wrestled for both All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling during his time in Asia. He is arguably the most successful American wrestler in the history of Japan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRSIQ1i9Qk Hansen's time in McMahon's territory was highlighted by feuds with Bruno Sammartino, Andre The Giant, and Bob Backlund. He famously broke Sammartino's neck during a match in 1976 by botching a powerslam. However, wrestling promoters took the opportunity to proclaim that Hansen had caused the injury by using his powerful lariat. The Hansen lariat became one of the most famous moves in pro wrestling due to its supposed connection with the Sammartino injury. Hansen held an abundance of titles throughout his wrestling career, including several heavyweight titles in All Japan Pro Wrestling and in different NWA territories throughout the United States. He was also the AWA Heavyweight Champion on one occasion.
